Of the riders still active in World Superbike, none can challenge the recent Brands Hatch record of Yamaha Motor Italia rider,
Noriyuki Haga. Winner of the three of the last four SBK races at Brands (two on Ducatis in 2004 and one on a 2005 Yamaha) Haga was pole man at Brno, and still sits second in this year's championship fight overall. His team-mate Andrew Pitt has gone one better than Haga in race trim thus far, and despite sitting sixth overall, was a race winner at the second Misano leg, in late June. Two Brno retirements, from strong front-running spots, have merely fed his hunger for more wins and podiums, on what is a spectacularly resurgent Yamaha R1.
James Toseland on his Winston Ten Kate Honda enters his home round with the knowledge that he has returned to podium-scoring form, and that his much-desired improvement in qualifying has already paid dividends in terms of recent points scores. The 2004 champion has proven already that he can win in 2006, and alongside is his team-mate, the ever-improving
Karl Muggeridge he will be a force to be reckoned with in front of a partisan home crowd.
World Superbike may be a long-term dance partner with Brands, but for the hugely experienced ex-
MotoGP rider, Alex Barros on the Klaffi Honda, it is a step into the latest unknown during his rookie SBK season. Having never raced at
Brands Hatch, he will possibly find it the steepest of all his learning curves this year, but after two disappointing races at Brno, plagued by technical problems, he and his determined team are sure to bounce back into podium contention. Another top rider without a win so far, Barros is certain to show why he is such a highly rated player in SBK, irrespective of the obstacles he may have to overcome on the way.
